SpringCon 2012 Panel Schedule Up!

Just one week until SpringCon 2012! Everything is beginning to fall into place. Below is the list of panels you can attend during this two-day comic extravaganza!

Click on the image to view the full-size flyer.

Two SpringCon Events

There is plenty to see and do at SpringCon, but we wanted to take a minute to spotlight two events: the Inaugural 2012 Warhammer 40K Tournament and HeroClix Tournaments! More information is included in the flyers below. Click the images for the full-size flyers.

This information (in text format) and more information about SpringCon events can be found at the Participate tab in the site navigation bar.

Less than a month remains before SpringCon 2012!

Hello Everyone,

We’re just about 4 weeks away from the MCBA SpringCon Comic Book Celebration on May 19 & 20 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and you, your friends, and family are invited to join us as we celebrate our community at the annual two day whoop dee do!

The Volunteers of the MCBA have been hard at work putting together what looks to be our biggest and best event ever and are hoping you’ll be able to make it!

In the next few weeks we’ll be finalizing our Guest Creator list, our panel schedule for guest creators, and dealer lists. In addition, we’ll be adding more events and more details on existing events. So feel free to check the website as often as you’d like!

Finally, we’d like to send shout out and ask you for your help! We humbly request that you pass this information on to friends, family & neighbors and please feel free to use whatever digital wizardry is at your command (word of mouth, friends family, websites, blogs, Twitter, texting, Facebook, etc.) and help us promote SpringCon to as wide an audience as is possible! We’re proud to be part of your community and really appreciate your enthusiasm. What we do would be impossible without your support!

Thanks for your time and thoughtful considerations! If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us at your convenience!

Hoping to see you soon!

Respectfully,

The Midwest Comic Book Association Volunteers

PS. Don’t forget Free Comic Book Day coming up on Saturday May 5th at your local comic book store! www.freecomicbookday.com

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO SPRINGCON?
Here’s some suggestions from fellow attendees…
1) COMFORTABLE SHOES – An obvious & overlooked detail!
2) BACKPACK OR BAG – A place to store all of your loot!
3) CASH – Some don’t accept checks & cash is king.
4) LISTS – Bring a complete list of the items you’re looking for!
5) SKETCHBOOK & PENS – Never know which artist you’ll see!
6) YOUR PORTFOLIO – Many artists at SpringCon are willing to do portfolio reviews. Bring your stuff!
7) FOOD & WATER – Keep the reactor fueled!
8.) A SWEATER OR WIND BREAKER – Just in case!
9) A CAMERA – Don’t be shy about asking people for photo opportunities!
10) FRIENDS – It’s always more fun with a group of friends!

FACTOIDS! THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW!
* GUEST CREATOR PANELS – will be running all on both days and will be announced very soon! It’s a great way to get up close and personal with some of your favorite omic book creators and best of all no extra ticket is required and all SpringCon Guest Creator Panels are FREE!
* FREE PARKING! Follow the signs when entering the fairgrounds via the Snelling Avenue main entrance.
* FREE GRAB BAGS – 1st 500 Attendees on Saturday & 1st 250 on Sunday!
* FREE Creator Autographs!
* ONCE AGAIN, the MCBA will be supporting three charities at SpringCon. They are the Minnesota Lupus Foundation (www.lupusmn.org), the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (www.cbldf.org) and the Minnesota Food Shelves. 100% of all charity proceeds go directly to these charities!
* THERE WILL BE an ATM in the building located near the front entrance.

Help Support a Great Local Artist

KICKSTARTER PROJECT – PLEASE HELP!

Our good friend & comic artist Mark Stebauer has a project in the works via Kickstarter. It’s called Dr. Goyle. When evil rears its ugly heads, who you gonna call? Dr. Goyle, of course!! If you like slam-bang monster-fighting action with a generous amount of humor, or just supporting a cool local creator, then this is the book for you! Please help support this creator-owned, all-ages book! Join the Kickstarter campaign, and get cool rewards for becoming a backer.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/1405432037/dr-goyle-returns-for-all-ages-in-new-issues

Thanks for your support!!! – Mark Stegbauer.

It begins…

MCBA FallCon This Weekend!

Hello Everyone!

We’re broadcasting this live from MCBA Volunteer Headqurters inviting you, your family and friends to join us this weekend at the MCBA Comic Book Party (aka the One Day Wonder) on Saturday (October 15 – 10AM to 4PM) at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in the Progress Center.

Things are moving fast and furious and we’re rapidly approaching critical mass as we accelerate towards this weekend’s big whoop dee do!

As expected, the geometric progression we call our Guest Creator list has multiplied yet again! The total number of Guest Creators looks to somewhere north of 125 and there’s no doubt we’ll be squeezing in a few more in before all is said and done!

The legion of FallCon dealers, from around the country, are reporting in that they are fully armed and operational comic book FallConeers! They offer good will and cheer and will be buying, selling & trading a gargantuan selection way cool stuff!

Other nefarious goings on will include costumed characters, hundreds of door prizes, a few special surprise Guest Creators, portfolio reviews, sketching, charity work, networking, hucksterisms and special emphasis is placed on everyone having a good time! Oh…and by the way, the first 500 attendees will get a free MCBA grab bag!

Now is the time and FallCon is the place where there’s something for everyone and everyone is welcome!

We really hope that you’ll be able to make it! As always, there’ll be a lot to see and do at FallCon! It’s a great way to spend a Fall day! 360 minutes of extreme comic book action! So please plan to come early and stay late!

PLEASE feel free to share this post far and wide! We’re really excited and always appreciate your enthusiasm and support!

Thanks for your time and thoughtful consideration! We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Midwest Comic Book Association Volunteers

ADDITIONAL INFO: FACTOIDS! THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW!

* UNUSUAL DISPLAYS will be found throughout FallCon this year! Make sure you circulate throughout the whole building otherwise you might miss something new and exciting!
* FREE PARKING! Follow the signs when entering the fairgrounds via the Snelling Avenue main entrance.
* FREE GRAB BAGS to the first 500 FallCon Attendees.
* FREE Creator Autographs!
* ONCE AGAIN, the MCBA will be supporting three charities at FallCon. They are the Minnesota Lupus Foundation www.lupusmn.org & the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund www.cbldf.org and the Minnesota Food Shelves 100% of all proceeds go directly to these charities!
* THERE WILL BE an ATM in the building located near the front entrance.

FallCon is right around the corner…waiting for you…

The Minnesota State Fair has come to a close. But just when you thought it was safe to walk the fairgrounds…

(click to view full-size flier)

A full site update is coming at the end of next week.

Special Guest Announcement:
It’s GOOD luck when the co-creator of the Black Cat crosses your path.

The MCBA proudly welcomes Marvel & DC Legend Keith Pollard to FallCon 2011!!!

SpringCon Update: The best-laid plans…

We’ve had a few people ask on the Guests page, but we’d like to confirm here that, unfortunately, Gail Simone is not going to be able to make it to SpringCon this year.

Also, we have just been informed today that, due to unforeseen circumstances, Denny O’Neil will not be attending SpringCon 2011.

We invite you to check out the Guests page for the full list of SpringCon guest creators as of today.

2011 SpringCon Panel Schedule

SATURDAY

11AM-12PM:TECHNIQUES OF COMIC BOOK ILLUSTRATION WITH DOUG PASZKIEWICZ
Where we break down, step-by-step, what works and why when telling a story with words and pictures. While his work on Arsenic Lullaby and Mad Magazine may be controversial. Industry wide recognition of his talent is not. A great way to start SpringCon!

12PM to 1PM:THE AMAZING STORY OF QUANTUM MECHANICS – PROF. JAMES KAKALIOS
It’s the 21st century…we were promised jetpacks and flying cars. We got cell phones and laptop computers instead! What happened??? The good Doctor will explain the 3 basic principles of quantum mechanics and show (illustrations from comics & pulps) how this leads to the laser & Blu-Ray DVDs.

1PM to 2PM:HOWARD CHAYKIN HOUR OF POWER
Meet one of the most talented and controversial comic creators of all time! Looking for happy clouds, fluffy bunnies, or wishy-washy opinions? This panel is NOT for you! An in-your-face interface with a true industry maverick and legendary creative visionary! Red Hot!

2PM to 3PM:“FASHIONABLE FIGHTING WOMEN” WITH TRINA ROBBINS
Join industry legend Trina Robbins as she shows images of 3 early comic heroines that she’s currently writing books, graphic novels, and comics on: Senorita Rio, Miss Fury, and Honey West. The “Fashionable” part is because none of them wear obnoxious skintight spandex, but instead fight the bad guys quite well in the stylish dresses and even evening gowns of the period. A do not miss presentation!

3PM to 4PM:TEACHING COMICS 101
Meet award winning writer/artist Jessica Abel and MCAD Instructor/ Creator Barb Schulz as they discuss the fine art of teaching fine art in comics and graphic communication. A great panel for aspiring creators, teachers, librarians and those who enjoy the process of comic creation!

4PM to 5PM:COSTUME CONTEST AWARDS!
A veritable cavalcade of stars! Costuming has been a long and honored tradition at comic book conventions and here’s your chance to meet this years costumed superstars of SpringCon! Bring your camera!

SUNDAY

9:15AM to 9:45AM:CHAPEL SERVICE
Are monsters getting you down? Are you tired of killing zombies that won’t stay dead? (I sure am!) Well, cheer up, everyone; there is a solution. Come to hear our resident demon-slayer Ron Hartley speak on: “How to defeat a monster!” Everyone is welcome, but please pick up your gate pass at the Christian Comics table.

11AM to 12PM:SPIRITUAL THEMES IN COMICS!
The Comics Code Authority – Where has it gone? Will it rest in peace? Did it help or hinder the industry? Have comics become immoral without it? Hear our esteemed panel of writer/editor Len Strazewski, independent writer Bud Hanzel, and DC artists Peter Krause and Patrick Gleason discuss “Morality and the Comics Code Authority.”

12PM TO 1PM:DENNY O’NEIL!
Meet the award winning comic book writer/editor Denny O’Neil. Hailed for his sophisticated stories that expanded the artistic potential of the medium and editorial style that set new quality and collaborative standards. An industry giant, having worked on Batman, Green Arrow, Detective Comics, he has also written many novels, worked on TV and in Hollywood. A great opportunity to meet the legend!

1PM to 2PM:WIMMEN’S COMIX!
Roberta Gregory along with special guest, Trina Robbins, take us on a mind-blowing journey through the history of women in underground comix. Get the straight scoop on how it went down from two that helped it go down!

2:30PM:MCBA CHARITY ART & COLLECTIBLES AUCTION!
Considered by many to one of the premiere events at SpringCon, the charity auction offers a virtual embarrassment of comic book riches! Including original artwork, sketches, and unique collectibles. The auction is always a don’t miss event! 100% of all the proceeds will be donated to the MN. Lupus Foundation and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Cash, Checks, Credit, debit & LexCorp Cards, Bearer Bonds, Gold Bullion and Loose Meat Sanmiches will be accepted.

T-minus 1 Week and Counting!

Hello Everyone,

We’re just about one week away from the MCBA SpringCon Comic Book Celebration on May 21 & 22 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. And you, your friends and family are invited to join us as we celebrate our community at the annual two-day Comic Book Celebration! Woot, woot!

Over the past few weeks the attending Guest Creator list has grown dramatically! Expect a vibrant and diverse Super Marketplace this year and lots of unusual and unexpected entertainment!

By the way, next week we’ll have the Guest Creator Panel Sessions schedule available, and this year they look terrific!

Hoping to see you soon!

Respectfully,

The Midwest Comic Book Association Volunteers